Combined chair and desk.



LEWIS I. AGNEW, OF WAPANUGKA, INDIAN TERRITORY.

COMBINED CHAIR AND DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed December 12, 1906. Serial No. 347,480.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS P. AGNEW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wapanucka, in District 23, Indian Territory, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Chair and Desk, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a cornbined chair and desk, especially adapted for school use, although its construction renders it admirably suited for public libraries or other institutions where such furniture may be useful, or for use as a type-writer desk, etc.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the desk and chair may be readily adjusted vertically and maintained in adjusted position, to accommodate persons of different size. The relative arrangement of the chair and desk is such that when the chair is lowered to suit a short person, it will in its downward movement, be brought nearer to the desk as would be necessary and desirable, when the desk may be lowered to suit the adjustment of the chair as the exigencies of the case may require. The reverse is true when the chair is raised, that is to say it is carried away from the desk, and the desk is then elevated to suit the changed conditions that would present themselves when the desk or chair is to be used by a taller person.

My object is also to provide a strong, durable, and rigid construction embodying novel details such as will permit the quick and easy adjustment of the chair and desk, and the adjustment of the top of the desk to bring it nearer to, or remove it further from the chair, as the needs of the case may make desirable, and a simple means for rigidly maintaining the chair and desk and other adjustable parts in adjusted position.

A still further object is to simplify the construction, making it compact so that it will occupy a minimum amount of space, and possess no unnecessary parts to interfere with the comfort of the user, or interfere with those occupying adjoining desks.

With the above, and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts that will be hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the desk and chair, the chair being turned to one side. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the chair supporting standard, showing the seat-arm of the chair therein in one adjusted position, there being shown another position of said arm in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the chair supporting standard and seat-arm. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section of one side of the desk showing the means whereby the top isrendered adjustable with relation to the lower part of the desk, and the means for locking these parts in adjusted position. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section through the desk standard and desk stem, showing the manner of adjusting the desk relative to its support. Fig. 6 is a view of the spring finger for securing the top of the desk in adjusted position.

Referrmg to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the desk proper which comprises the top 2 provided with two oppositely disposed downwardly projecting side pieces 3. These pieces are provided on their inner faces each with a groove 4 which is entered by a laterally cXtending tongue 5 formed along the upper marginal portion of the side pieces 6. The side pieces are secured at their lower edges to the book-shelf or bottom 7 of the desk.

The numeral 8 designates a number of curved braces which are attached at their upper ends by screws or other means to the part '7, and their lower ends are brought together at a central point and are securely fastened to a stem 9. This stem 9 is formed in two parts 10 and 11 which are connected by a suitable set-screw 12. This set-screw passes through an elongated slot 13 in the desk standard 14. The standard is provided with edge flanges 15 which form a wide groove 16 on each side of the standard, in which the stem 9 is guided vertically, and is prevented from shaking or vibrating. To adjust the desk vertically it is only necessary to loosen the setscrew 12 when the desk may be freely moved up or down, and to the desired position, when the screw is tightened to maintain the desk at the desired height. The standard 15 is flattened at its lower end as indicated at 1'7, and may be made integral with or be connected to the flattened lower end 18 of the inclined chair standard 19. At the point where the ends of these standards merge or are brought together, they are firmly secured to the floor or other support as indicated at 20.

The chair standard is hollow for the greater part of its length presenting a long rectangular space 21, and presents an opening 22 at its upper end to receive the seat arm 23. A slot 24 is provided in the top of this standard, and extends from the open end thereof along the top of the standard for a suitable distance. The slot is considerably narrower than the standard and narrower than the rectangular space 21 therein, thus presenting two inwardly extending flanges 25, each formed with a rack 26, adapted to cooperate with two laterally extending lugs 27 preferably formed integral with the seatarm 23 at or near its lower end. The seat-arm is '1 shaped in cross section thus presenting side flanges 28 which rest upon the top of, the standard 19 adjacent to the edges of the slot 24. In assembling the chair and chair standard, the seat-arm 23 is inserted in the opening 22, and when the weight is taken from the chair, the seat-arm will move freely up and down within the standard, and when the chair is brought to the desired height and there released, its weight will cause the lugs 27 to engage the racks 26 within the standard and prevent the chair from going further into said standard, thus maintaining the chair at the desired height. The chair is preferably revolulvly mounted upon the seatarm 23, as this would obviously facilitate the easy entrance oi the chair and exit therefrom.

The numeral 29 indicates what I will term a spring 1 linger. Two of these are employed, and are attached by screws or otherwise to the inner faces of the side pieces oi the desk. They are formed preferably as shown in Fig. (3, that is to say each has an end 30 adapted to extend through openings 31. in the desk sides. The side pieces 6 are provided along their inner laces below the groove with a series ol sockets 32 which receive the ends 01' the spring lingers. 1 preferably curve the spring lingers near their ends as indicated at 30 so that they may be easily grasped to withdraw their ends from the sockets, to permit the top oi the desk to be moved to the point at which it is desired to adjust it. I prefer to use two oi those lingers, although obviously one would serve the purpose.

The chair standard 19 has two braces 33 toned to its upper end. These diverge from their point of connection with the standard to the tloor or support where their lower ends may be secured to the support. The desk standard is provided with a lug fi l to which two braces or legs 35 are connected. These braces extend to the support to which they may be attached by any suitable means.

l t will be understood that any suitable material may be employed in the construction oi the parts.

securely tas- 1. 111 a chair, a. hollow standard having; an open upper end and a slot in its top, racks within the standard on each side ot' the slot, a. chair having a seat-arm adapted to enter the open end of the standard and provided with lugs adapted to engage the rack to maintain the chair in ad justed position, said seat-arm being formed with laterally oxtent'ling side pieces which overhang the top oi the stand ard adjacent to the slot, and suitable braces for said standard.

2. In a chair, a hollow standard having an open upper end and-a slot in its top, racks within the standard on each side ot the slot, a chair having a side arm adapted to eoonrm enter the open end of the standard and provided with lugs adapted to engage the rack to maintain the chair in adjusted position, said seat-arm being formed with laterally extending side pieces, which overhang the top of the stand ard adjacent to the slot.

3. In a chair, a hollow chair supporting standard having an open upper end and a slot in its top, eng: ging means within the standard, a chair having a seat arm 'havi 2 en gaging means adapted to engage the engaging moans i' in the standard to hold the chair in adjusted position. said side arm being tornied with laterally extending side pieces which overhang the top of the standard adjacent to the slot.

-t. in a chair, a standard having an open upper end and :1V slot in its top, a rack within the standard on each side oi. the slot, a. chair having :1 st 'arm adapted to enter the open end 01f the stani'lard and provided with lugs adapted to engage the racks within the standard to maintain the chair in adjusted position; i

in a chair. a standard having a rack therein, a. chair having a seat arm provided with lugs adapted to enga e the rack ol the s andard, said standard being inclined, its upper end [forming a fulcrum tor the seat-arm \vherehy the weight; oi the chair causes the in upon the lower end oi the seat-arm to engage the rack within the standard (i. in a chair, a hollow chair supporting standard ha viii; engaging means therein, a chair having a s tt-arm ha ring lugs thereon adapted to engage the engagin means within the standard said standard being inclined, i s upper end forming a 'luicrum tor the seat-arm whereby the weight oi the chair causes the lugs upon the lower end of the seatarm to engage the engaging means within the standard to maintain the chair in adjusted position.

7. in a desk, means for vertically adjt .ting the same. sa id desk having side pieces provided with tongues and a top ha viug the side pieces provided with grooves into which the tongues on the side pieces project, said grooves having a series oi sockets therein, spring fingers within the dost. adapted to enter one or the other of said sockets. whorehy the top of the desk may be held in adjusted position with relation to the lower part. thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

in testimony whercot I have signed my name to this specification in the presence oi two subscrihing witnesse \\itnesses A. A. l anrik, l), H', Sail'lli. 

